1959Festival scores its first major Hollywood title with “Beloved Infidel,” with Gregory Peck as F. Scott Fitzgerald — a dud, alas. Marcel Camus’ “Black Orpheus,” Brit comedy “The Mouse That Roared” and Bruce Conner’s experimental landmark “A Movie” are better received, and more reflective of the fest’s daring.

1960Juror Jean Renoir and official hostess Mary Pickford preside over a fest whose Soviet visitors are kept from visiting Disneyland by fears they’ll defect. John Cassavetes’ “Shadows” premieres, but Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” is yanked by distributor at the last minute.

1962With the fest taking place during the Cuban missile crisis, patriotic themes from U.S. Sixth Army Marching Band counter the Red Menace of an opening night film from Bulgaria. All-star “Guns of Navarone” reps fest’s first hit major-studio premiere.

1965The Golden Gate awards, as originally conceived, are eliminated, appeasing the Academy establishment, which thought they competed with the Oscars, and paving the way for glittery tributes to Hollywood royalty.

197233-year-old Francis Ford Coppola gets a tribute in the year of “The Godfather”; Clint Eastwood brings directorial bow “Play Misty for Me.” Plus “Murmur of the Heart,” “The Sorrow and the Pity,” “Sunday, Bloody Sunday,” “WR: Mysteries of the Organism.”

1973A very public split between Jarman and Johnson leads to latter’s ouster.

1974Sam Peckinpah is tipsy but polite about aud’s criticism of his violent ouevre. American Nazis protest opening night’s “The Odessa File” as “anti-white.” A 34-year-old Nancy Pelosi, now the nation’s first female House Speaker, is hired as a fest event planner.

1975Tributee Joseph L. Mankiewicz says film bizzers have never “been so single-mindedly dedicated to making a fat, hot, quick buck as today’s. The pimps have taken over.” Meanwhile, fellow guest Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” is becoming the highest-grossing pic to date.